Survival belt

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose survival belt includes an elongated strap having a sealable cavity along its length and configured for storage and retrieval of a thin, foldable sheet. The cavity is sealable by means of a zipper or Velcro® loop-type arrangement. The thin material may be in the form of a body insulating sheet, rope, wire saws and the like. The belt includes a sealable buckle configured for storage and retrieval of selected implements. The belt provides convenient and immediate access for implements stored in the various portions of the belt. The belt uses a conventional locking hook and aperture arrangement for cinching about a wearer.

[0001] highly compactible body shields, commonly known as a spaceblanket, capable of insulating an individual from the heat or cold alsofacilitates the user's efficiency and convenience objectives in becomingself-sufficient during such travels. Such containers also accommodatepeople who are either unwilling or unable to carry a side pouch or backpack. Obviously, much of what a user requires may be contained in aconventional back pack. However, the more a user loads into the backpack the less the space available for other implements. Moreover, themore densely loaded the back pack becomes the less efficient, and moreonerous and time consuming retrieval of the pack contents becomes.

[0002] There are utility belts known in the art. They typically areadapted as implement carrying belts that are used by tradesmen such asmaintenance and construction personnel, painters, mechanics,electricians, carpenters, utility pole servicemen and even police andmilitary servicemen. Usually these belts have removable or adjustableimplement carrying holders adaptable for a wide range of desired usesand applications. Such belts are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,501,379 to Munoz which relates to a modular utility belt. Anotherexample is U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,823 to Gordon which relates to amultipurpose utility belt. Still another example is U.S. Pat. No.5,893,498 to Aaronson which relates to a socket retaining utility belt.

[0003] The belts of the prior art generally are used as a support forholding implements in holders that are either attached to or hang fromthe belts. The belts of the prior art do not have multiple purpose beltbuckles for the purpose of cinching the belt to a user while having asealable container for holding implements for immediate and easy access.Moreover, the belts do not utilize the strap portion as a sealablecontainer for storing and easy retrieval of thin, foldable body covermaterial and rope-like items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore a primary aim of the present invention to definea belt that provides convenience in rapid storage and retrieval ofimplements from the belt buckle and from the strap portion of the belt.The belt according to the present invention includes a sealablecontainer portion extending essentially lengthwise of the strap portionof the belt that is capable of storing a thin, foldable sheet andcord-like implements. A seal is accomplished either by a zipper orVelcro® looped locking arrangement and encloses/seals the contained itembetween opposite facing sides of the strap. The sealing arrangement maybe located on either side of the strap but for convenience purposespreferably it is along the outside facing side. Since the strap, ofnecessity, is flexible so as to be cinched about a wearer, the itemscontained within the belt are typically flexible as well.

[0005] Attached at one end of the belt is a relatively large bucklehaving a removable face plate such that when the face plate is removed,the interior of the buckle is exposed for either inserting or retrievingitems from within. Items intended for storage and retrieval in thebuckle may include items such as, for example, a compass, whistle,pliers, scissors, matches, medications, a flashlight and electronicdevices. The buckle face plate is secured to the buckle by a pair ofspring-loaded probes that are inserted in corresponding apertures in thebuckle side walls. Hinge arrangements may also be used to allow for theface plate to swivel between open and closed positions without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. The buckle includes a locking probethat may be inserted into any one of the series of apertures on theopposite end of the belt for size adjustment to accommodate a wearer.

[0006] Other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the survival belt of thepresent invention;

[0008]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the belt of FIG. 1 takenalong lines 2-2;

[0009]FIG. 2B is an alternate embodiment of the belt of FIG. 2A;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of the belt of FIG. 1 with the contents ofthe container within the strap shown in phantom;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the buckle of the belt of FIG. 1with the face plate removed;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the face plate ofthe buckle of FIG. 4; and

[0013]FIG. 6 is a top view of the buckle of FIG. 4 with the face platelocked in the sealing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown belt 10 having astrap 12, a buckle end 14 and an engagement end 16. The strap 12 andengagement end 16 may be formed of a number of commercially availablematerials such as, for example, leather, plastic, or strong wovenfabric. The engagement end 16 includes a series of spaced apart openingsor apertures 18 longitudinally directed along the engagement end 12 soas to provide adjustability when cinching the belt depending upon thepoint of engagement with “c” shaped locking hook 20. The openings 18extend through the thickness of the engagement end 16 to thereby providea secure grip. The material forming the strap portion 12 and theengagement portion 16 may be the same material or a different materialand they may be joined together in any one of a number of methods knownin the art.

[0015] For the present invention, the strap 12 is formed of twoindividual segments 22 and 24 (as shown in FIG. 2A) attached togetheralong ends 26 and 28 so as to provide an interior cavity or space 30capable of containing and storing a selectable number of implements 32.Segment 24 has an opening defined by edge 34 and 36 to which is attachedrespective teeth portions of a zipper 38. A zipper sliding piece 40engages edges 34 and 36 in a conventional manner to open and close thezipper to provide access and sealing of the cavity 30. Other methods ofsealing the cavity 30 may be used as for example by way of a hook andloop locking arrangement commonly known under the name Velcro® with oneedge of segment 24 having the hook arrangement and the other edge havingthe loop arrangement. A still further example of a releasable fastenermay be the interlocking plastic edges commonly known as Zip Lockfasteners. In an alternate embodiment (see FIG. 2B), edges 34® and 36®may be sized so as to provide for an overlapping sealing arrangementwithout the use of the interlocking sealing arrangements describedabove.

[0016] The cavity 30 is sized to accommodate a variety of implementstherein. In particular, the invention contemplates storage of what maybe called a space blanket. A space blanket may be formed of a very thintypically plastic material capable of being rolled up into a relativelysmall volume so as to fit into the cavity 30 typically lengthwise andpermit the sealing element such as a zipper to be closed thereby storingthe space blanket within the cavity 30. The space blanket may have aninsulative end and/or reflective coating so as to provide a full bodycover for a user who seeks insulation from a cold environment orreflection of sunlight in a bright warm environment. Other types ofimplements may include wire saws, ropes and surgical wrappings. With alltypes of sealing apparatus, it is understood that they are sufficientlyflexible enough to allow the belt to be cinched about a wearer.

[0017] A buckle 14 is coupled to strap 10 in any one of a number ofmethods known in the art. The buckle 10 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed ofa durable, strong material such as metal commonly used in belts. Thebuckle of FIG. 4 is shown as an embodiment having a rectangular shapeand cross-section. However, it is to be understood that the shape of thebuckle may be round, oval or any other geometry without departing fromthe spirit and contemplation of the invention. The buckle 14 includes areceptacle 42 that is sized to contain any number of implements such as,but not limited to, a compass, GPS, scissors, matches, flashlight,medications and the like. Buckle 14 includes two scalloped portions 44and 46 and as will be described later in detail, the scalloped portionsprovide clearance for movement of a locking spring 46.

[0018] Two apertures 48 and 50 extend into sidewalls 52 and 54respectively and are positioned to be in alignment with respective endsof spring 46 when a face plate 56 is placed on buckle 14 in the sealingposition. A cut-out or plateau 57 provides clearance and a platform uponwhich face plate 56 rests when it is in the sealing position. A recess59 extends inward of rear wall 60 and as will be described later,provides a rear anchor for face plate 56.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of anembodiment of the face plate 56 [underside] of the present invention.Face plate 56 includes a retractable spring 46 which is anchored to theunderside of the plate by any one of a number of conventional techniquesknown in the art. Spring 46 comprises two symmetrically movable arms 58and 60 having ends 62 and 64 respectively. Application of a force to theexposed ends 66 and 68, urging the arms 58 and 60 together, causes theends 62 and 64 to retract inward towards each other to a location withinthe border of the face plate 56. An extension 70 protrudes outward fromthe face plate rear edge 72.

[0020] The extension 70 is shaped to conform to the profile of recess 59and the spring ends 62 and 64 are shaped to conform to the profile ofapertures 48 and 50. To mount the face plate 56 in the sealing positiona compressive force is applied to exposed ends 66 and 68 which drawseach end 62 and 64 to be positioned within the border of the face plate56. The face plate 56 is guided into position such that extension 70enters recess 59 and front edge 74 rests upon plateau 57. At suchlocation, spring ends 62 and 64 are in alignment with apertures orifices48 and 50 and upon release of the compressive force on the exposed ends66 and 68 the spring ends 62 and 64 enter the respective aperturesthereby locking the face plate 56 to the buckle 14. To release the faceplate 56 from its locked or sealing position, a compressive force issimultaneously applied to exposed end 66 and 68 until the ends clear therespective apertures and the face plate 56 can be thereafter removed. Asshown in FIG. 6 when in the sealing position, exposed end 66 and 68extend beyond the walls 52 and 54 by virtue of the clearance provided bythe scalloped portions 44 and 46.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, the face plate 56 has a rectangular shapehaving a thickness 76. The depth of plateau 57 is sized to be equal tothat of the face plate thickness 76 such that when the face plate is inthe sealing position the buckle 14 will have a relatively flat outersurface. It is to be understood that the face plate 56 faces away fromthe wearer when the belt is cinched about the wearer. Further, it is tobe understood that the cross-section and described embodiment is not tobe taken in a limiting sense and that adjustment of dimension andprofile as well as locking arrangements of the face plate 56 and buckle14 are well within the contemplation of the invention.

[0022] Although the present invention has been described in considerabledetail with reference to certain preferred versions, many other versionsshould be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the spiritand scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited tothe description of the preferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A survival belt comprising a flexible straphaving an engagement end and a buckle end, said flexible strap having asealable container portion extending substantially between theengagement end and the buckle end.
 2. The belt of claim 1 wherein thestrap comprises two attached together segments, the sealable containerportion being sandwiched between one segment and the other segment ofthe strap.
 3. The belt of claim 2 wherein one segment of the strap hastwo open edges along the length thereof and a zipper attached to saidedges and configured to draw the edges together in a sealing fashionwhen the zipper is closed and to release the edges apart when the zipperis open so as to provide access to an interior of the container portion.4. The belt of claim 2 wherein one segment of the strap has two openedges along the length thereof adapted to be releasably locked togetherby a fastener comprising a hook strip and a loop strip attached torespective ones of said edges such that pressing the edges togethercauses the hook strip and loop strip to engage and lock together anddrawing the edges apart causes the fastener to release the edges apartso as to provide access to an interior of the container portion.
 5. Thebelt of claim 2 wherein the container portion contains a removablesheet.
 6. The belt of claim 5 wherein the removable sheet comprises awater repellent relatively thin material.
 7. The belt of claim 5 whereinthe removable sheet comprises a heat insulating material.
 8. The belt ofclaim 5 wherein the removable sheet comprises a heat repellent material.9. The belt of claim 2 wherein the container portion is sized to receiveand contain a relatively thin flexible implement.
 10. The belt of claim1 wherein the buckle end comprises a buckle attached to the flexiblestrap, the buckle defining a receptacle portion sized and adapted tostore selected implements.
 11. The belt of claim 10 wherein thereceptacle portion includes a removable face plate configured to coverthe receptacle portion in a sealing fashion.
 12. The belt of claim 11wherein the face plate includes a spring-loaded lock adapted to bereleasably locked in place over the receptacle portion, comprising aspring anchored to the face plate, the spring having movablecomplimentary arms each arm having an end portion positioned to be inalignment with mating receiving apertures in the receptacle portion,said apertures adapted to receive respective end portions in a lockingmanner when the face plate is positioned to seal the receptacle portion.13. The belt of claim 12 wherein the receptacle portion has a receivingorifice and the face plate includes a locking tab positioned to be inlocking engagement with the orifice when the face plate is positioned toseal the receptacle portion.
 14. The belt of claim 1 wherein theengagement end includes a series of apertures oriented along a length ofthe belt and wherein the buckle includes a locking hook positioned andsized to engage a selected aperture so as to cinch the belt to be secureabout a wearer.
 15. A survival belt comprising strap means forencircling a wearer, the strap means comprising a series oflongitudinally positioned openings located at one end of the strapmeans, buckle means located at the other end of the strap means andadapted to engage a selected one of the openings so as to secure thebelt about a wearer, the buckle means comprising receptacle means forstoring implements and detachable plate means for sealing engagementwith a receptacle means to maintain the implements within the receptaclemeans, said plate means being detachable for providing access to thereceptacle means and container means extending longitudinally along aportion of the belt for storing implements therein said container meansincluding sealing means for sealing and unsealing the container means.16. A survival belt comprising strap means for encircling a wearer, saidstrap means comprising a series of longitudinally positioned apertureslocated at one end of the strap means, buckle means located at the otherend of the strap means and adapted to engage a selected one of theopenings so as to secure the belt about a wearer and container meansextending longitudinally along a portion of the strap means for storingimplements therein said container means including sealing means forsealing and unsealing the container means.
 17. A survival beltcomprising strap means for cinching about a wearer, buckle means forreleasable engagement with the strap means and container means extendingalong a portion of the strap means for storing implements therein, saidcontainer means including sealing means for sealing and unsealing thecontainer means.